Oil-gasifier.



PATBNTED MAR. s1, 1968.

W. H. NEHER.

OIL GASIFIER.

AFPLIQATION FILED 1723.26, 1906.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

WILLIAM H. NEI'IER, or INGLEWOOD, cALIFoRNIA.

OIL-GASIFIER.

Specification of Letters Patenti Patented March s1, 1908.`

Application led February'26, 1906.l Serial No. 302,892.

.heat for the initial vaporizingand the ultimate gasifying of the oilbeing derived from .the exhaust gas of the engine.

The present invention relates to an appa-A ratus of similar' type, butof an improved construction.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to heat the air toa' high degree beforeit is admittedA to the vaporizing mem-l ber, andanother object of substantially vequal importance is to provide meansfor causing this heated air and the exhaust4 gas to be brought into moreintimate contact' with'the oil on the vaporizing member and to also ex-ypose a greater area of oil in contact with the airV than is obtained bythe apparatus in the previously described application, or by any otherapparatus of which I am aware.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention and referring thereto:Mliigure 1 is a vertical cross section through the apparatus, showingit connected with the cylinder of'an explosive engine.' Fig. 2 is avertical cross section through the apparatus on line :c2-x2 Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a horizontal cross section through the apparatus on line @c3-'x3Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but partly, in elevation,illustrating another form of vaporizing member and flanges.' Fig. 5 is ahorizontal cross section through the apparatus on line n35-zt? Fig. 1.

The apparatus comprises a base 1, having a cupped upper portion 2 withvan inwardly directed flange 3 forming a central circular opening 4.4Mounted onv the cupped portion 2 is a dome 5 having flanges 6 which aredetachably fastened to lange's 7 on the cupped portion 2 by thumb screws8. The dome 5 is covered with a metal jacket 9 with an interveningasbestos heat insulation 10, The upper end of thefdome has a Aliftingring l1, and in order to determine the temperature Within the dome, athermometer 12 may be inserted in the upper end of the dome, as shownin'Fig. 1.

Within the dome 5 nesting therewith is a cylindrical va orizing member13, the lower edges of whic rest upon the flange 3. The upper wall ofthe vaporiz'ing member 13 is slanted, as -shown in Fig. 2. Preferablyformed integrally with the vaporizing member 13 is a diametricalpartition 0r web 14', the lower portion of which extends below the`cylindrical portion of the va orizingmember 13 into the base 1, diviing the latter into two chambers 15 and 16. edge of the web 14terminates short of theinclined upper wall of the vaporizing member,thus forming an opening 17 giving communication between the two chambersin the vaporizing member 13.

Preferably cast integrally withthe web or partition 14 is a conduit orpipe 1S, the upper end of which has an extension 19 which projectsbeyond the upper edge of the web 14 and through and beyond the upperinclined wa-ll oi thevaporizing member, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and2. The upper end of the. extension 19 terminates short oi the upper wallof the dome. The lower end of the conduit 18 has an extension 20 whichprojects through and below the base of the chamber 1 and is threaded fora nut 2.1, by means of which the conduit, web, and vaporizin member (allof which are integral) are rigidlgy held securely in position. A pipe 22is connected to the threaded extension 2O for the purpose of conveyinggas from the apparat'us to the cylinder 23 of the engine, the

pipe 22 connecting with a pipe 24, the lower end ofcthe latterconnecting with an air inlet p1pe 25, having a valve 26 for regulatingthe `amount of air admitted to mix with the gas .which isconductedthrough the pipe 22 so that the proper mixture kof air and gas is,allowed to enter through the pipe 24'mto the 'cylinder Formed externallyon the walls of the vaporizing member is a series of flanges 27. Theseflanges are preferably cast integrally with the vaporizing member andthey' extend clear to the walls of the dome 5. Each flange is veryslightly dished, as shown, and

' has a slightly raised lrim 2,8 which lies close to the wall ofthe dome5. Each flange also has a segmental opening 29, as shown inFlg. 3. Theflanges are arranged in two sets, one set' The upper loo slanting in onedirection and the other set slanting in the opposite direction, as shownin Fig. 2. The openings 29 of one set of flanges are arranged next toone side wall, the openings29 of the other set arearranged diametricallyopposite. There is thus avvertical tortuous passage for hot airupthrough the interior of the dome formed by the stag# gered openings29, and for -thefdownward passage of oil formed by the slanting flanges.

At one side of the partition 14 the base 1 has an enlargement 31 whichis closed by a plate 32, and a butterfly valve 33 isfarranged 1n thisspace to regulate the passage of exhaust gas from one chamber'to theother. The valvej 33 has a stein 34 which passes throu h a stufling-box35 andy has a handle sprin 37 serves to frictionall hold the valve in t'e position set.

15 from the chamber 16.

A pi 38 connects the chamber 15 with the cy Inder 23 and serves toconduct the exhaust from the cylinder to the chamber 15. A pipe 39'connects the chamber 16 Witlya T 40, t elatter .connecting with averticaly ipe 41 lwhich dischar es the' exhaust gas rom the apparatus.4lxtending ldown through the ipe 41 is an airint'ake .42,` the `lower endof w ich passes through the f1 40 and is connected by' ipipg- 43.v withthe Ichamber 30, as shown in IPigs. 1, 2 and 5; The chamber 30 has adrainy pipe 44 provided with a valve 45.

An' oil pipe 46 extends up through the chamber 30 close a ainstV .theinside' ofthe dome v5 the flangeseing cut tripermit the passage of thep1 e, and the ipe `46 has-.a curved upper en 47 ada te to discharge theoil down'on the top ange as lshown 1n Fig. 2. The lowerend ofthe ipe46is connected by a pipe 48 with a va ve 49, and in order to maintain-theproper lead of oil to insure its delivery from the upper end of the pipe46, `alooped pipe 50 is provided, one run of which communicates withythe valve 49. 50 and 51. desi nate the circuit terminals of the loop v5'wl 'nch are'connected withthe oil supply source The loop 50 is alwayskept filled with oil, and the 'desired amount may be admitted to thepipes 48 and 46 by means of the valve 49. The oil which not admittedthrough the valve 49 passes up and down through the loop 50 into theoverflow tank.

-ln operation the lexhaust gas from the cylinder 23 passes through thepipe 38 into the chamber 15 and, with the valve 33 closed, the exhaustgas passes up through the interior of the vaporizing member 13 on onesideofthe partition, through the openings 17 at the upper end and downon the other side of the artition into the chamber 16, thence throughthe pipe 39 into the T 40, thence up through the pipe 41 from which itdischarges The va ve 33,.- when placed vertically, alines with the edgeof the partition 1 4 and divides the chamber and surplus tank not shown.

. the opposite formed into a vapor or gas, the purer portion from 'theapparatus. If the valve 33 is fully opened, then the exhaust gas passesdirect from the chamber 15 to the chamber 16 and thence into the pipe41. haust gas which is admitted to the interior of the vaporizingf-amember depends upon the positionin whichthe valve 33 is set, and asstated, if the valvev is closed, all of the exhaust gas will pass up anddown through the vaporizing member, while, if 'the valve 1s partia lyopened, only part of the exhaust gas will pass through the vaporizingmember, the remainder passing directl into the chamber land thenceoutf'throug the ipe 41. Air is drawn through the pipe'42, wlliichlieswithin the pi e 43, into the pipe 18 and thence intol the@ amber 30.From the chamber 30 it.V asses u -into the lowermost chamber wit intheome 5 below the lowest lange, passes tothe opposite side of thevaporizin member, then u through the opening 29 ci the superposed angeinto the next space; it

.then passes to the other side of the dome and asses u through theropening 29 of the nextl lgher an e into the next space and so on backand orth, the air taking a tortuous -path back and forth across thespace`within the dome 5, but externally of the vapoiizing member, thustraversing each of the many chambers formed the ilange's and' thenissues throu hv the to llange into the upper part of the orne. he airwhich is-drawn throu hthe pipe 42 becomes very-highly heate whiletraversing the pipe 41 through which the exhaust gas is escaping, andtherefore this air, before it enters the interior of the dome, isextremely hot.

The oil which is admitted from the pipe 46 vdrops onto the upper flangeand, iiowing around both sides o the conduit, falls down through theopening 29 onto the next lower flange, and the oil spreads out on thisllange and flows in a reverse direction t`o the lower part oitheAfiange, then through the opening 29 of the ange onto the nextsucceeding sive chambers formed by the flanges. Any oil or residuewhich, during this passage, is not converted into gas, .drops into thechamber 30 from which it may be discharged from time to time throughipef44. The oil in taking this downwar tortuous passage s rea s t at agreat areaof it is exposed to the irect action of the hot air whichistakin the same tortuous passabe, but which is wor ing u in direction, sothat the oi is of which assemb es at the u per part of the dome 5, andthis mixture o gas and heated air is drawn by the suction of the enginedown through the pipe 19 through the pipe 22 intothe cylinder of theengine, and the gas in its downward passage through the pipe 18 is thuskept at ,the proper temperaout in a thin `film over `the lian es s o.

,iiange, and so ondown through the succesture, by reason of theadditional heat which is imparted to it by| the heat of the exhaust gaswhich has a circuit up and down through the interior of th'e vaporizingmember on both sides of the partition 14. i

I have found v1n practice that the hotair which rises from the chamberis alone suf,- icient to vaporize the oil, but by my construction ashigh a degree of heat may be ob? extended clear to the walls of the domeand form alarge number of communicating chambers whlclr cause the hotair to work its way by degrees to the top of the dome and thus come intocontact with agreat area ofthe oil with which it is thus necessarily incontact for a considerable time causing it to impart as much of its heatas possible tothe oil to vaporize the same. The'flanges being large alsocause the oil to be spread out thinly and to be exposed over a lgreatarea to the action 4of the hot air, thus greatly promoting theefliciencyof the apparatus.

lf desired, the flanges may be made spirally, as shown in Fig. 4, inwhich case the heated air will have an upward helical travel, while theoil will have a downward helical travel,

` the action of the heated air on the oil being practically the same asin the previously 'described construction.

While the .helical flanges in this modificav tion formwhat might betermed a single continuous flange, and a continuous spiral chamber, justas the threads of a screw are sometimes referred to as the thread7 ofthe screw, l consider the construction to be the equivalent of theseries of flanges of the previous form, and in the claims I use the termflanges as including the helical flanges as wellas the flanges of theprevious form, and thus l consider the helical flanges as formingchambers which com'municate. the operation of the helical constructionis substantially the same, and the .result obtained is substantially thesame as in the previous form.

It is considered much preferable to per form the vaporization by theAheated air andr to admit only enough exhaust gas to the in-V terior ofthe vaporizer to keep ythe gas which has been formed by the heated airwarm, thus obviating heating the metal too'high by the exhaust gas whichcauses lthe oil to carbonize and collect on the me t al By admittingMoreover only this amount of exhaust gas to the va orizer and relyingsubstantially exclusively on the heated air for accomplishing thevaporiza'tion the oil does not carbonize and the apparatus is kthus keptvery much cleaner than otherwise. t

What l claim is l. A base, a vap'orizing member above `the base, a domehousing and nesting with the `vaporizing member, flanges' on theVaporizing member extending to the wall of the dome and forming a seriesof chambers, the flanges having openings whereby a tortuous passage isformed, means for conveying fuel to the flanges, means for conductinheated air through the tortuous passage, an means for conveying gas fromthe interior of vthe dome.

2. A base, a vaporizing member above the base, a dome housing andnesting with the vaporizing member, means for conducting exhaust gasthrough the vaporizing member, flanges on the vaporizing memberextending to the wall ofthe dome and forming a series of chambers, theflanges having openings whereby a tortuous passage is formed, means forconveying fuel to the flanges, means for conducting heated air throughthe tortuous passage, and means for conveying 'gas fromA the interior ofthe dome.

3. 4 A'base, a vaporizing member above the base, a dome housing andnesting with the vaporizing member, flanges on the vaporiz ing memberextending to the wall of the dome and forming communicating chambers,means for conducting fuel to the flanges, and means for conducting hotair to the assages, so that as the fuel flows down the anges it isbrought into direct contact with the hot air which is passing up throughthe cham-v bers.

. 4. `A base, a vaporizing member above the base, a dome housing andnesting with the vaporizing member, means for conducting exhaust gasthrough the vaporizing member, anges on .the vaporizing member extendingto the wall of the dome and forming communicating chambers, means forconducting fuel to the flanges, and means for conducting hot air to thepassages, vso that as the fuel flows `down theV flanges it is broughtinto direct contact with the hot air which is passing up through thechambers.

5. A base, a vaporizing member above the base, a dome housing andnesting with the vaporizing member, flanges on the vaporizing memberextending to the wall of the dome and forming communicating chambers,

means for conducting fuel toA the-flanges, andmeans for conducting hotair to the passages, so that as the fuel flows down the flanges 1t 1sVbrought into direct contact with the hot air which is passing upthrough the chambers',

ioo

Vthe vaporiaing member having a diametrical Y partition whichgives an upand down circuit of the exhaust'gas in its vpassage through the vaporizing member.

6. A base, a vaporizing member above the 3 base, a dome housin andnesting with the vaporizingmember, anges on the Vaporizing 'memberextending to the Wall of the dome and forming communicating chambers,means for conducting fuel to the flanges, and means for conducting hotair to the passages,

so that as the fuel flows down the flanges it is g sage of 'exhaustbrought into direct contact with the hot air which is passing up throughthe chambers, the vaporizing member having a diametrical partition whichgives an up and down circuit of the exhaust gas in its passage throughthe vaporizing member, the'partition extending into the base chamber andpartially dividing the same into` two sections, a valve in said basechamber adapted to regulate the pasgas from one section to the er of thebase chamber, and thereby regullatin the amount of said exhaust gaswhich .is de ected into the vaporizing member.

7. A base, a vaporizing member above the base, a dome housing andnesting with the vaporrzing member, flanges on the vaporizyfing memberextending to the wall of the partition which gives an up and downcircuit of the exhaust gas in its passage through the vaporizingmember,the partition extending into the base chamber and partiallydividino` the vsame into two sections, a valve in sai base chamberadapted to regulate the passage of exhaust gas from one section to theother-of the base chamber, and thereby regu- `lating the amount of saidexhaust gas which is deflected into the 'vaporizing member, an

auxiliary chamber in the base communicatin with the lowest chamber inthe dome, an ex austv ipe for discharging the exhaust gas from theibasechamber, and an air pipe within the exhaust pi e for conveying air tothe auxiliary cham er.

8. Ah automatic oil gasifier comprising a Japorizer member-over whichthe oil passes, means for conducting a heating gas through the vaporizerfor heating the walls thereof, and means for conducting vapor generatedby the vaporizer back through a long passage the outer wall of which hasan extensive area in contact with theheating gas in the vaporizer forconverting the vapor into a permanent gas.

9. An automatic oil gasilier comprising a vaporizer over which the oilpasses, a partition forming two communicating chambers in the vaporizer,means for conducting a gas through heating gas through said chambers,and means in the partition for conducting vapor generated by thevaporizer between said chambers to form it into a permanent gas.

10. An automatic oil gasifier comprising a tubular vaporizer forconverting oil into a vaor, means for confining the vapor in contactwith the external wall of the vaporizer, a passage having an extensivearea within the vaporizer through which `passage said vapor is conductedfor converting said vapor into a ermanent gas,v and means .for passing aheating gas through the vaporizer externally of' said passage.

11. An automatic oil gasifier comprising a tubular vaporizer forconverting oil into a vapor, a removable dome covering the vaporizer forconfining thevapor, a passage having an extended area within thevaporizer, through which passage said vapor is conducted for convertingsaid vapor into a permanent gas, and means for passin a heating gasthrough the vaporizer externay of said passa e.

g12. An automatic oil gasifier comprising a cylindrical vaporiz'er for.converting oil into a vapor, means for confining the vapor in .contactwith the external wall of the vaporizer, a conduit having a great areawithin the vaporizer .and extending substantially longitudinallylthrough the vaporizer for conducting the vapor through the interior ofthe vaporizer, and means or cenducting a heating gas through theinteiiotof the vaporizer but extenally of said agudujt, forheating the,walls of the vanorwer and said conduit whereby the latter :heats theyvapor in it and forms' a permanent"""`as thereof.

13. An automatic oil-gasi er com rising a tubular vaporizer forconvertingo into a vapor, a. removable dome covering the vaporizer forconfining the'vapor, a conduit extending'through the vaporizer andhaving an extensive area within the 'vaporizer for conducting the vaporthrough t e interior of the vaporizer, and means for 'conducting aheating gas through the interior ofthe vaporizer but externally of saidconduit.

14v An automatic oil gasifier comprising a tubular vapori'zer forconverting oil into a vapor, cylindrical means for confining the vaporaround the outside of the vaporizer, a conduit extending through thevaporizer longitudinally for conducting vapor therethrough, and meansfor conducting a heating the vaporizer externally of the conduit.

' 15. An automatic oil gasifier comprising a tubular vaporizer forconverting oil into a vapor, cylindrical means nesting with thevaporizer for confining the vapor around the outside of the vaporizer, aconduit extending longitudinally through the vaporizer through the wholelength of the vaporizer for conducting vapor therethrough and vaporizer,means for conducting oil into saidA of whichlies near the means forconducting a heating'g's the vaporizer externally of the conduit, the

conduit having'an extension,- the upper end base, a vaporizer above thebase, meansv forming. an air-tight chamber aroundthe chamber intoContact with. the vaporizer, means for conducting a heating gas throughthe vaporizer to heat the walls thereof and convert the oil into avapor, means having au extensive area' within 4the va orizer forconducting the vapor through t e mterlor oi the vapori'zer to form thevapor into a` permanent gas, and means for combiningair with thepermanent gas after it has passed from the vaporizer. l

17. An automatic oil gasiiier comprising a base, a vaporizer above thebase, means or dividing the vaporizer-into two chambers whichcommunicate at the top of the vaporizer, means dividing thebase into twochambers which communicate with the respective chambers in thevaporizer, a dome supported b the base and housing and nestingl with tievaporizer, a condmt extending longitudinally through the vaporizer fromend to end and through the base for conducting vapor from the domethrough theinterior of the vaporizer, and means for conducting a heatinggas through the base and vaporizer externally ofsaid conduit.

18. An automatic oil gasilier comprising a base, a vaporizer abovethevbase, means for 4dividing the vaporizer into two chambers whichcommunicate at the 'top of` the vaporizer, means dividing the base intotwo chambers which communicate with the respctive chambers in thevaporizer, a dome sup orted by the base and housing and nesting with thevaporizer, a conduit extending concentrically through the vaporizer andthe base for conducting vapor from the dome through the interior of thevaporizer, and means for conducting a heating gas through the base andvaporizer.

19. An automatic oil gasiier comprising a vaporizer over which the oilpasses7 means for conducting a heating gas throu h the vaporizer vforheating the walls t ereof, means having an extensive area within thevaporizer for conducting vapor generated` by the Vaporizer back throughthe heating gas in the. vaporizer whereby said vapor is exposed to agreat heating area in the vaporizer for converting the vapor into apermanent gas, means for mixing the permanent gas with air, andmeans-for conducting the permanent gas thereto.

y 20. An automatic.A oil gasiiier comprising a tubular vaporizeroverwhich the oil asses, means for conducting a heating gas t irough thevaporizer for heating4 the walls thereof,

upper boundary of the' f chambers la vaporizing member above t throughthe bottom means for conducting vapor generated-ex- -ternally of thevaporizer through the heating p 1n,- a conduit formed in the partitionforicon- 'veylng gas or vapor, and means for conductmg a heating gasthrough said chambers.A

v22. A base, avaporizing` member with a partition forming twocommunicating chamers therein, a conduit in said partition, thepartition extending below the.- vaporizing member into the base andforming two chambersin the base which communicate with the in thevaporizing member.

23.v A base having an upper cupped portion, a dome surmounting thecupped ortion, a vaporizingmember above thease and nesting with thedome, a partition in the vaporizing member and base, and a conduit inthe partition extending through the top of the vaporizing member.

24. A base having .an upper cupped portion, a dome surmounting the cuped portion, e base and nestingjwith the dome, apartition in vthevaporizing member andbase, `and a conduit in the partition extendingthrough the top of the vaporizing member, the conduit exi tendingthrough the bottom of the base.

25. A basehaving an upper cupped portion, a dome surmounting the cuppedortion, a vaporizing member above the ase and nesting with the dome ,'apartition in the vaporizing member and base, and a conduit in thepartition extending through thetop of the vaporizing member, the conduitbeing ,formed integrall with the` partition, the partition being fb'rmedintegrally with the vaporizing member. v p 26. A base having anuppercupped portion, a dome surmounting the cupped por- 110 tion, avaporizing memberabove the base `and nesting with the dome, a partitionin the vaporizing member land base7 and a conduit in the partitionextending through the top of the vaporizing member, the conduit beingformed integrall with ,the partition, the partition being ormedintegrally with the, -vaporizing member, the conduit extending of thebase, and a nut on the conduit below the base for holding the vaporizeron the base.

27. A base, a dome above thebase, a vaporizing member above the basenesting with the dome, means for supplying oil to the external wall ofthe vaporizing member, means for conducting a heating gas inside thevaporizer to heat the walls thereof and vaporize theU1 oil on itsexternal Walls, and a I conduit extending longitudinally through thevaporizer and having a great; area within .30

the vaporizer heated by the heating gas Within the vaporizer, forconveying the vapor formed externally of the vapori'zer through thevaporizer to superheat said vapor'and form it into a, permanentgas'during its passage through said conduit.

28; A base, a dome above the base,` a vaporizin member above thebase/nesting with the ome, a conduit extending longitudinally throughthe vaporizing member, an oil supply pipe extending u inside the domeand ada ted to feed oil to t e vaporizer, said y oil pipe avmg a loopexternally of the dome,

the bend of the loop being but s'lig-htlybelow the level of the highestpoint of the oil pipel 15 `Wlthln the vaporizing member to establish anunvarying head of oil7 one run of the loop ada ted todischargethesurplus oil,v a r ipe fee ing lthe loop, and a val've forregula ing the amount of-oil supplied to the vaporizer. 20

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, this 16th day of February, 1906. f 4 v WILLIAM H. NEHER.

In presence of- GEORGE T, HACKLEY, VERNA A. TALBERT.

